Sugar and spice and everything nice..Bridal Shoes

Here comes the bride, all dressed in white...

Check out her shoes, gilded and blue...

He finally proposed (yes, slipping random pictures of engagement rings into his briefcase worked!), you have the "diamond" you always dreamed of (and I am referring of course to your fiancé and not to the rock that adorns your ring finger) and you are now into WPM (wedding planing mode). CONGRATULATIONS!

If you are like me your bridal pair(s) (ummm, I did say pairs) will feature high on your list of priorities - and so they should! Imagine for a minute, walking down the aisle in your dream dress; your Vera Wang, Carolina Herrera or Carlos Miele, (Ladies, you know you have walked this walk in your fantasies a million times). Make sure that your shoes offer the perfect complement (and get lots of compliments!) on your big day!

Let your bridal shoes tell a story. There is definitely more to contemplate than the traditional white or ivory, satin or silk, classic Manolo or Stuart Weitzman. So, think outside the box. Nothing need be as it seems! I say - add a dash of color. A little sugar and spice will make everything nice.

Here are some suggestions:

• Match the color of your bouquet - how about the Red Kate Spade Genny (www.piperlime.com) with the heart detail or the Christian Louboutin glittered platform pump (OMG - Super DELICIOUS!).
• Incorporate the hues of your bridesmaids' frocks - how about purple Carlos Miele platform heels (www.carlosmiele.com for stores) or pink Dior Miss Dior Satin Pumps.
• Add some "Sex and the City" with the Manolo Blahnik Something Blue Satin Pump (www.neimanmarcus.com) or the Lorelei by Gina (www.ginashoes.com).
• Follow the season's hottest trends - consider the Christian Louboutin Mirrored Platform Pump in Fuchsia - TOTAL FABULICIOUSNESS (FYI, any Christian Louboutin's will do for me!!).

If you are not quite ready to be "out there", fear not - there is plenty of spice for the faint of heart! Consider, for example a simple but "blinging" shoe - how about the "Naomi" by Gina, a personal favorite, and one of my bridal pairs! (see photo above).

When deciding on your bridal shoes, pick something contemporary and you can promenade down memory lane wearing your dream shoes again and again and again. Think about it - your wedding is the perfect opportunity to justify spending a little extra to own those fabulicious shoes you have been eyeing.

Some thoughts:

Flats: You don't have to wear 4" heels. There are some great options for flats. Check my post on Flats (coming soon).

Comfort: Avoid the pain without forsaking extravagance; invest in Insolia inserts for your high heel shoes. (www.insolia.com)
Hot Tip: Platform peeptoe heels will elongate your legs and transform you into a "sexy lexy" - but ask one of your bridesmaids to carry a comfy pair of flats for you (and they need not be flip flops!!!!).
The Bail Out: Budget tight? Don't take a second mortgage to finance your bridal shoes! Nine West, Endless.com, Bluefly, and Piperlime (to name a few) have great affordable alternatives.

Finally, this is YOUR big day Cinderella. Be sure the shoe fits. Create, don't imitate, and you, like your delicious bridal shoes, will be "sui generis!"

Stay fabulous!

Razzle Dazzle!

If you don't know, now you know!

I have an obsession with SHOES! Not just any shoes, however! Like anyone, I have my favorites - Gina (OMG - HAVE A CLOSET FULL!) Christian Louboutin (LOVE THEM), YSL ..etc etc!

Some might say my expensive taste in footware is inconsistent with the current economic climate! To those people, I say "fear not my cheeky little shoe junkies - there are ways to be a shoe recessionista without losing the fashionista." You may have heard of a new venture by Kim Kardashian called Shoe Dazzle (http://www.shoedazzle.com/) - after months of resisting, I finally signed up yesterday when a friend told me that the shoes she had received from Shoe Dazzle cost only $39 (no tax added and free shipping), but "are in the $150-$200 quality range and are quite comfy."   My eyes lit up! (Thanks Melissa W! Now we're going to have to get a bigger apartment!! LOL).

My first pair of Shoe Dazzles is on its way - and the best thing is, if I don't like it I can return it (no shipping cost but beware of the $5.95 repackaging fee). If you don't want any shoes one month or don't like the selections provided by the stylists, you can opt to skip a month (just remember to skip the month before the 6th of each month).

Finally, if you just want to razzle in the dazzle and give it a try - you can always cancel your registration at anytime!

Just wanted to share the shoeness! Have a lovely day - and remember - delicious shoes are sui generis!

xoxo